Concealed Pistol Permits

*To obtain a Concealed Pistol Permit you can contact your local sheriffs office.

Permit to Carry a Concealed Pistol

An individual who wishes to carry a concealed
pistol on or about his person or in a vehicle must obtain a Permit to Carry a
Concealed Pistol (SDCL
22-14-9). A person does not need a permit to own a pistol, keep it in his
home, business, or property, or visibly carry it (SDCL
22-14-11).

Carrying a concealed pistol without a permit is a
class 1 misdemeanor punishable by one year imprisonment in a county jail or one
thousand dollars, fine, or both (SDCL
22-14-9).

A Permit to Carry a Concealed Pistol may be
obtained from the sheriff of the county which the applicant is a resident (SDCL
23-7-7).

A permit is valid for five years, and the fee is
$10.00 (SDCL
23-7-8.2).

The applicant must complete a form called an
Application for a Temporary Permit to Carry a Concealed Pistol. The information
required for the permit includes (SDCL
23-7-8): the applicant's complete name, address, occupation, place and date of birth,
physical description, a statement that the applicant has never pled guilty to, nolo contendere to, or been convicted of a felony or crime of violence, a
sworn
statement that the information on the application is true and correct, and the
applicant's signature.

Providing false information or false evidence of
identity in applying for a permit to carry a concealed pistol is a Class 6
felony punishable by two years imprisonment in the state penitentiary or a fine
of two thousand dollars, or both.

Those considering carrying a firearm while riding
a motorcycle or off-road vehicle should review
SDCL 32-20-6.6.

The applicant must also meet the following
requirements (SDCL
23-7-7.1):

Is eighteen years-of age or older;

Has never pled guilty to, nolo
contendere to, or been convicted of a felony or a crime of violence;
Note: "Crime of violence" is defined in
SDCL 22-1-2 (9)

Is not habitually in an intoxicated
or drugged condition;

Has no history of violence;

Has not been found in the previous
ten years to be a "danger to others" or a "danger to self" as
defined in
SDCL 27A-1-1 or is not currently adjudged mentally incompetent;

Has physically resided in and is a resident of the county where the application is being made for at least thirty
days immediately preceding the date of the application;

Has had no violations of chapter
23-7, firearms control,
22-14, unlawful use of weapons, or
22-42, controlled substances; marijuana,
constituting a felony or misdemeanor in the five years
preceding the date of application or is not currently charged under
indictment or information for such an offense;

Is a citizen of the United States;
and

Is not a fugitive from justice.

Any active duty military personnel with South Dakota as their
home of record is considered to have met the provisions of
SDCL 23-7.7.1 (SDCL
23-7-7.5).

The sheriff will issue a temporary permit within
five days from the date of application (SDCL
23-7-7.1).

Within seven days after the
temporary permit has been issued, the sheriff sends a copy of the application to
the secretary of state who issues the official permit (SDCL
23-7-8).

The permit is valid throughout South Dakota
except in any licensed on-sale malt beverage or alcoholic beverage establishment
that derives over one-half of its total income from the sale of malt or
alcoholic beverages (SDCL
23-7-8.1); any county courthouse as defined in SDCL
22-14-22; or any elementary or secondary schools (SDCL
13-32-7). The permit is not transferable from one person to another (SDCL
23-7-8.3).

The Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004 amended the Federal criminal code to authorize qualified law
enforcement officers (including certain qualified retired officers) carrying the
photographic identification issued by their governmental agency, notwithstanding
State or local laws, to carry a concealed firearm. The federal law provides that
such authorization shall not supersede State laws that: (1) permit private
entities to prohibit the possession of concealed firearms on their property; or
(2) prohibit the possession of firearms on State or local government property.
The law also excludes from the definition of "firearm" any machine gun, firearm
silencer, or destructive device.
Click here to view the Enrolled
Act.